Page 33 of Melting for the Firefighter
The truth nearly puts me on my knees.
She leans back enough to look at me.
“Was that why you stopped believing people stay?”
“My mother did not choose to leave.”
“Someone else did.”
Whispering Pines is small. Everyone knows I was left at the altar. Most of them had already taken their seats when it happened.
“My high school sweetheart,” I say. “We were together eleven years. She left the morning of the wedding with my best man.”
Cora’s eyes widen.
“Eleven years?”
“Yeah.”
“She is an idiot.”
The words come out fierce enough to surprise me.
“You didn’t know her.”
“I know enough.”
My own words from the hospital.
Cora gives me a faint smile.
Then it fades.
“My ex stayed,” she says. “At least until he found someone he liked better.”
I wait.
“I worked all through high school. Cleaning pools, houses, whatever I could find. He always needed gas money or food or something for his truck.”
Her gaze fixes on the front of my shirt instead of my face.
“Then I found him with another girl. He told everyone he only dated me because I paid for things. Said he needed someone prettier for his future.”
Rage moves through me.
Clean.
Violent.
“Name.”
Her eyes widen. “Why?”
“Need to know who I am avoiding hitting.”
A laugh escapes her despite the hurt in her face.
“He left town.”
